Tauranga City Council contractors are getting green fingers ahead of schedule – collecting more than 350 tonnes of green sea lettuce from the city's harbour and beaches.

The first algal bloom of the season is resulting in tonnes of sea lettuce being dumped along the shoreline of Tauranga Harbour and Mount Maunganui as sun hours and water temperatures increase.

Clean up volunteers clearing rocks from the beach so the tractor can get through to clear the sea lettuce. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

TCC communications advisor Marcel Currin says contractors have already removed 360 tonnes of sea lettuce between Fergusson Park and Kulim Park on three separate occasions – averaging 120 tonnes.

The Matua Residents Association is busy cleaning rocks from the Matua foreshore this morning with the aim of tidying up the harbour beach access so heavy equipment can be brought in to clear sea lettuce.

The association is working from Fergusson Park boat ramp towards Beach Road.

Rocks and stones that have been washed out from the seawalls will be placed back into the seawall.

Sea lettuce seen along the walkway between Kulim Park and Fergusson Park.

TCC and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council jointly allocate $60,000 each year for the removal of sea lettuce

The removed lettuce is transported to the compost site at Te Maunga, with a certain amount given to Bay of Plenty orchardists. Contactors pick up sea lettuce from the sea, as well as from the seabed at low tide.

Mount Maunganui Surf Club general manager Glenn Bradley says the club has been experiencing varying amounts of the sea lettuce for the last two weeks in what is more of a nuisance than anything else.

The surf club, located at the base of Mauao on Mount main beach, keeps in regular contact with council about the levels of sea lettuce on the beach and whether removal is required – something yet to occur this season.

'Certainly it is unsightly and it can get quite smelly when it dries out. Sometimes it will wash away with the weather and other times it needs removal,” says Glenn.

'It tends to happen in summer more than winter, which is probably not ideal. The westerlies during spring mean it goes out through the harbour and onto the beaches here.”

Sea lettuce blooms in the area are a natural event linked to the El Nino weather pattern, according to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.